Grace Presbyterian Church
Seeking to equip people to live as Christian disciples wherever God has placed them.
Welcome And Opening Prayer
Prelude
Suite on the First Tone: Grand plein jeu Louis-Nicolas Clérambault
Responsive Call to Worship based on Psalm 145
One: God is all mercy and grace—not quick to anger and rich in love.
All: God is good to one and all; everything is suffused with grace.
One: Creation and creatures applaud you, God; your holy people bless you.
All: We talk about the glories of life in you. We wonder at your mercies.
One: Let the world know of God’s goodness, and the lavish splendor of God’s realm.
Hymn Red 92* “Crown Him with Many Crowns”
Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne;
hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own;
awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king through all eternity.
Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed o’er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save;
his glories now we sing who died and rose on high,
who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.
Crown him the Lord of love; behold his hands and side,
rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified;
no angels in the sky can fully bear that sight,
but downward bends their burning eye at mysteries so bright.
Crown him the Lord of years, the potentate of time,
creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime.
All hail, Redeemer, hail! for thou hast died for me;
thy praise shall never, never fail throughout eternity.
Call to Confession
Confession of Sin
God of Abundance, we confess that we have a hard time living like that is true—that you have provided more than enough. We tend to navigate the world, live our days, under the threat of scarcity, and at the same time believe the lie that the accumulation of stuff will lead us to happiness and give us peace. Lord, help! Give us wisdom beyond our years that finds contentment in the things that come without price—friendship, sunsets, shared laughter, surprise reunions… Help us to live lives that share of your riches—faith, love, hope, and joy—so that your abundant blessings are shared extravagantly. In Jesus’ name, we pray…(Let us continue, personalizing this prayer for ourselves, in silent prayer.)
Assurance of Pardon
Gloria Patri
Passing of the Peace
Prayer for Illumination in Unison
O God, your word is more precious than fine gold and sweeter than purest honey. As we turn to Scripture, may your Spirit open our spirits to your truth and grace. May we respond in wonder, faith, and trust. Amen.
First Scripture Reading (In Unison) Luke 12:13-21
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
Second Scripture Reading Luke 12:22-34
He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Sermon ENOUGH: Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Discovering Joy through Simplicity and Generosity
Today’s Theme: Financial Freedom
Hymn Green 187* “In God Alone”
In God alone my soul can find rest and peace,
in God my peace and joy.
Only in God my soul can find its rest,
find its rest and peace.
In God alone my soul can find rest and peace,
in God my peace and joy.
Only in God my soul can find its rest,
find its rest and peace.
Reflection on Stewardship Video featuring Dr. Jay Mason
Offertory Suite on the First Tone: Récits Louis-Nicolas Clérambault
Doxology
Pastoral Prayer/The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Hymn Red 568* “Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated”
Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee;
take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love,
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee;
take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King,
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages for thee;
take my silver and my gold,
not a mite would I withhold,
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my love, my God, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store;
take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee.
Benediction
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